Supporting panels in frames



Dec. 14, 1965 A, PHLPOT 3,222,839

SUPPORTING PANELS IN FRAMES Filed Jan. 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A A.PHILPOT SUPPORTING PANELS IN FRAMES Dec. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 15, 1961 United States Patent ()fifice 3,222,839 Patented Dec. 14,1965 3,222,839 SUPPURTING PANELS IN FRAMES Arthur Alfred Philpot, 37Northumberland St., Tusrnore, South Australia, Australia Filed Jan. 13,1961, Ser. No. 82,468 Claims priority, application Australia, Jan. 18,1960,

9 Claims. (Cl. 52-498) This invention relates to improvements in and toframes for supporting panels therein and in particular it relates toframes which are used in building construction or the like, such as inwindow construction, which frames are to support glass or other panels.

Present window construction usually involves the use of headings orkeepers which hold the glass or other panels in place, and certaindifficulties exist in the fixing of the panels to ensure correct holdingand yet to make possible the rapid and simple fixing.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved form of frameby means of which the panels can be held and this is achieved byproviding a frame which comprises a pair of members with panelsupporting portions on each member, the members being hinged to eachother, the panel supporting portions being so arranged that they can bepositioned near each other to form a panel retaining recess, but can bemoved apart, and locking means which are releasable are disposed betweenthe members, the locking means being operable to retain the members intheir recess forming position.

It will be realized that a hinged section on such a frame in itselfpresents a problem, as the hinge must not detract from the appearance ofthe frame, nor must it be of such a nature that moisture or dust canpass through the frame or be lodged in crevices, but by use of thisinvention the hinged section may be held to the frame by providing alongitudinal channel in the one member engaged by a complementary cyclicportion on the other member. In this way it is possible to achieve anaesthetically pleasing appearance on both sides of the panel supportingframe.

The invention is described hereunder in further detail with reference tofour species which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The first species which is characterized by an extruded section in whichan internal cyclic portion is disposed on a frame member and is embracedby a rotatable supporting member is illustrated by embodiments which areshown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a frame member engaged by apanel supporting member according to a first embodiment of the firstspecies,

FIG. 2 is a corresponding cross-sectional view according to a secondembodiment of the first species,

FIG. 3 is a corresponding view illustrating a third embodiment of thefirst species,

FIG. 4 is an elevation of portion of a frame constructed according toFIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view according to a fourth embodiment of thefirst species.

A second species which is characterized by an extruded strip in which aninternal cyclic portion is disposed on a panel supporting member, and isembraced by a frame member, as illustrated in the drawings in which:

' FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a frame member and panel supportingmember according to a first embodiment of the second species, and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section through a corresponding assembly according toa second embodiment of the second species.

A third species which is characterized by a frame formed from roll formstrip which is fabricated is illustrated in the drawings, in which,

FIG. 8 is a cross-section through a frame member and panel supportingmember assembly, and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the panel supporting member.

A fourth species which is characterized by extruded panel support memberdisposed in a drain channel is illustrated in the drawings, where FIG.10 is a cross section through a frame member and panel supportingmember.

The term cyclic is used in this specification to denote across-sectional shape of a member which has a portion, the envelopepoints of which lie substantially on a circle. The term is used toembrace shapes where the circular form is deliberately departed from toa small extent in order to achieve locking of the cyclic portion withinthe member in which it is positioned.

Referring first to species 1 of the invention:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment in which a panel supporting frame 1comprises a frame member 2 which is adapted to be secured to a support3, the support 3 normally being portion of a building. The frame member2 in this embodiment comprises an angle section portion 4 with anoutstanding web 5 to which a cyclic portion 6 is attached, the cyclicportion 6 being of cylindrical form, and being embraced by the narrowmouthed channel of the panel supporting member 7, the panel supportingmember 7 having flanges 8 which are spaced parallel to and adjacent to apanel supporting portion 9 on the frame member 2.

In this position, the flanges 8, which are also panel supportingportions, define with the panel supporting portion 9 a panel supportingrecess 10, into which a panel 11 is fitted. In this embodiment, thepanel supporting member 7 is nonrotationally held to the frame member 2by means of the screw 12 in the position where the recess 10 is defined,but by removal of the screw 12, the flange 8 is separable from the panelsupporting portion 9 to a panel release position by simply rotating thepanel supporting member 7 about the cyclic portion 6 of the frame member2, and this separation of the flanges 8 from the panel supportingportion 9 enables an easy removal or reinsertion of the panel 11 to thepanel supporting frame 1.

Furthermore, it will be seen that the aesthetic properties of the frameare good since smooth unbroken lines are achieved for the length of theframe 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the first species, and thepanel supporting frame 1' comprises a frame member 2 which is adapted tobe secured to a support, the frame member 2' having a cyclic portion 6'thereon, the cyclic portion 6' having a flat surface 16 which is engagedby the tongue 17 of the panel supporting member 7 forming part of anarrow mouthed channel, the tongue 17 being sufficiently flexible toenable relative rotation between the cyclic portion 6' of the framemember 2' and the panel supporting member 7' which embraces it. Howeverthe tongue 17 engaging the flat surface 16 tends to retain the shape ofthe panel supporting recess 10' and considerable effort is required tocommence relative rotation between the panel supporting member 7 and theframe member 2', although once started, continuation of this relativerotation is comparatively easy to effect.

The third embodiment of the first species is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4, which show a pair of panels 11 joined end to end by the panelsupporting frame 1", the panel supporting frame 1" comprising a singleframe member 2" and a pair of panel supporting members 7 which arenotched and have narrow mouthed channel portions engaged over the cyclicportion 6" of the frame member 2" in a hinge-like manner as shown inFIG. 4. The cyclic portion 6" is channelled with the notches 18 whichare engaged by complementary projections on the panel supporting member7", so that the flanges 8" of the panel supporting members 7' arenormally retained parallel to the panel supporting portions 9" of theframe member 2 but are separable therefrom to a panel release positionto allow removal of the panels 11.

The fourth embodiment of the first species is illustrated in thecross-section of FIG. 5. In this case however the cyclic portion 6" ofthe frame member 2 is formed hollow and has a quadrant 20 cut away fromits outer periphery, the quadrant 20 forming part of the panelsupporting portion 9", and the panel 11 being retained by the arcuateshape panel supporting member 7" which constitutes a narrow mouthedchannel and is retained in position by the screw 12.

Referring now to species 2 of the invention:

The first embodiment of the second species is illustrated in FIG. 6,wherein the frame member 2a is formed with a narrow mouthed channel 22in which the panel supporting member 7a is retained by means of itscyclic portion 23, and the panel supporting recess a is maintained bythe flat surface 24 on the cyclic portion 23 of the panel supportingmember 7a when the flange 8a is parallel to and adjacent the panelsupporting portion 9a. This flat surface 24 is engaged by the tongue 25which forms part of the frame member 2a.

A slight variation to the first embodiment of the second species is thesecond embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 7, and in this embodimentthe panel supporting frame 1a" is adapted to support a pair of panels atright angles to each other. The frame member 2a is of hollow squarechannel section with a narrow mouth which allows the outstanding webs 26which extend outwardly from the cyclic portions 23' of both the panelsupporting members 7a to be rotated through an angle of almost 90degrees thereby allowing the flanges 8a to be separable from the panelsupporting portions 9a and opening the panel supporting recesses 10a toa panel release position to allow engagement or disengagement of thepanels.

Referring to species 3 of the invention:

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment according to a third specieswhich shows a fabricated arrangement. Both the frame member 2b and thepanel supporting member 7b are formed by a roll forming process fromflat strip, but the panel supporting member 7b has a plurality of cyclicprojections 30 welded thereto. These cyclic projections 30 engage in thehollow square frame member 2b which constitutes a narrow mouthed channeland when the flange 8b is adjacent and parallel to the panel supportingportion 9b to define the panel supporting recess 10b, the flats 31 and32 on the cyclic projections 30 become engaged by the metal walls whichform the frame member 2b and prevent inadvertent separation of theflange 8b from the panel supporting portion 9b.

However, if the panel supporting member 7b is rotated within the framemember 2b, it will be seen that it may be removed transversely of thelongitudinal axis. Furthermore it will be appreciated that the framemember 2b is shaped to channel water.

Referring to species 4 of the invention:

FIG. 10 is illustrative of the fourth species in which the panelsupporting members 7c are formed by an extrusion process, and two panelsupporting members 7c are disposed in a single frame member 20 which isof narrow mouthed channel shape, but has inturned panel supportingportions 9c. Each of the panel supporting members 7c is formed with alongitudinal slot 35, the longitudinal slot being disposed out of sightand within the frame member 2c when the flanges 8c of the panelsupporting members 70 are parallel to and adjacent to the panelsupporting portions 90 of the frame member 20 to define a pair ofaligned panel supporting recesses 10c. However, upon removal of theretaining screws 120, the panel supporting members 7c may each berotated as shown on the lower part of FIG. 10 to a panel releaseposition and removed transversely of the longitudinal axis.

Once again it will be seen that both the frame member 2a and the panelsupporting member 7 may be used to channel water which may otherwisetend to pass the frame if the frame is used on a building.

The invention can be made use of with cast, extruded, rolled or pressedmetal, or with moulded or extruded plastics.

A consideration of all the above embodiments of each species willindicate that it is a very easy matter to utilize this invention toobtain an aesthetically pleasing appearance of a frame member, it willbe seen that the retention of panels, whether they be of glass or othermaterial, is simply and effectively achieved, and that the replacementof the panels upon breakage or for other reasons is also simple andrequires very little labor.

What I claim is:

1. A panel supporting frame comprising a frame member, said frame memberbeing of constant cross-sectional shape, the walls of said frame memberdefining a narrow mouthed channel wherein the minimum distance betweenopposite walls exceeds the width of the channel mouth, a panelsupporting portion integral with said channel walls, a panel supportingmember, a plurality of cyclic projections on the panel supporting memberrotatably engaged in the channel of the frame member by the wallsthereof, the panel supporting member having a flange integral with thecyclic projections and projecting through the mouth of said channel,flats on the projections, said flats releasably engaging said channel byspring of the walls thereof when said flange is disposed parallel to butdisplaced from said panel supporting portion to define a panelsupporting recess, but said panel supporting flange being movable insaid mouth to a panel release position upon rotation of said cyclicprojections within said channel.

2. A panel-supporting frame comprising a frame member, the walls of saidframe member defining a narrow mouthed channel wherein the minimumdistance between opposite walls exceeds the width of the channel mouth,a panel-supporting portion on the frame member, a panelsupportingmember, a cyclic portion on the panel-supporting member rotatable withinthe channel of the frame member, a panel-supporting flange on thepanel-supporting member extending outwardly through the mouth of thechannel and positionable in spaced relationship with thepanel-supporting portion on the frame member to define therewith a panelretaining recess, said panel supporting flange being movable in saidmouth to a panel release position upon rotation of said cyclic portionwithin said channel, and releasable engagement means between the framemember and the panel-supporting member restraining rotation of thepanel-supporting member from its panel retaining position.

3. A panel-supporting frame comprising a frame member, the walls of saidframe member defining a narrow mouthed channel wherein the minimumdistance between opposite walls exceeds the width of the channel mouth,a panel-supporting portion on the frame member, a panelsupportingmember, a cyclic portion on the panel-supporting member rotatable withinthe channel of the frame member, a panel-supporting flange on thepanel-supporting member extending outwardly through the mouth of thechannel and positionable in spaced relationship with thepanel-supporting portion on the frame member to define therewith a panelretaining recess, said panel-supporting flange being movable in saidmouth to a panel release position upon rotation of said cyclic portionwithin said channel and flats on the cyclic portion of thepanelsupporting member releasably engaging within the channel therebyrestraining rotation of the panel-supporting member from its panelretaining position.

4. A panel-supporting frame comprising a sheet metal frame member ofconstant cross-sectional open rectangular shape defining a narrowmouthed channel wherein the minimum distance between opposite wallsexceeds the width of the channel mouth, a panel-supporting portion onthe frame member, a panel-supporting member, a cyclic portion on thepanel-supporting member rotatable within the channel of the framemember, said cyclic portion extending for between three quarters and afull circle thereby alternatively engaging the inner walls of thechannel or being removable therefrom, a panel-supporting flange on thepanel-supporting member extending outwardly through the mouth of thechannel and positionable in spaced relationship with the panelsupporting portion on the frame member to define therewith a panelretaining recess, said panel-supporting flange being movable in saidmouth to a panel release position upon rotation of said cyclic portionwithin said channel and releasable engagement means between the framemember and the panel supporting member restraining rotation of the panelsupporting member from its panel retaining position.

5. A panel-supporting frame comprising a frame member of constantcross-sectional shape, a panel supporting member of constantcross-sectional shape, a cyclic portion extending along one of saidmembers, a narrow mouthed channel extending along the other said member,said cyclic portion being rotatably retained within said narrow mouthedchannel by the walls thereof, a panel supporting flange integral withsaid cyclic portion and extending outwardly through the mouth of saidchannel, a panel supporting portion integral with said channel walls,said panel supporting portion and panel supporting flange beingpositionable in an adjacent but spaced relationship defining a panelsupporting recess but said panel supporting flange being movable in saidmouth to a panel release position upon rotation of said cyclic portionwithin said channel, and releasable locking means between said membersoperable to retain said members in the said adjacent but spacedrelationship.

6. A panel-supporting frame according to claim 5 wherein said one onemember is the frame member and said narrow mouth channel extends alongthe panel supporting member, said panel supporting flange including anoutstanding web, said cyclic portion extending along the free edge ofthe web, said panel supporting flange including a portion extending fromthe web parallel to but spaced from the cyclic portion, the walls ofsaid panel supporting member being of arcuate cross-sectional shape andcircumferentially engaging said cyclic portion, said releasable lockingmeans being screws for engaging both the frame member and the panelsupporting member when said portion of the flange is disposed parallelto but displaced from said panel supporting portion to define said panelsupporting recess, said panel supporting member being rotatable aboutsaid cyclic portion whereby said panel supporting portion is separablefrom said flange to open said panel supporting recess upon release ofsaid screws.

7. A panel supporting frame according to claim 5 wherein said one memberis the frame member and said narrow mouth channel extends along thepanel supporting member, said cyclic portion extending along the framemember, said releasable locking means comprising a flat on the cyclicportion releasably engaging one of said channel walls when said flangeis disposed parallel to but displaced from said panel supporting portionto define the panel supporting recess, said panel supporting memberbeing rotatable about said cyclic portion upon deformation of said onechannel wall whereby said flange is separable from said panel supportingportion to open said panel supporting recess.

8. A panel supporting frame accord ng to claim 5 wherein said othermember is the frame member, said panel supporting member being providedwith the cyclic portion which is rotatably retained within the narrowmouthed channel, said frame further comprising a second panel supportingmember including an associated cyclic portion and panel supportingflange, the frame mem ber including a second panel supporting portionadapted for cooperating with said panel supporting flange of the secondpanel supporting member to define a second panel supporting recess forthe accommodation of a second panel, said cyclic portions of the panelsupporting members being coaxially mounted one Within the other forindependent relative rotation each between a first position in which theflange of the particular panel supporting member and the correspondingpanel supporting portion of the frame member accommodate a respectivepanel and a release position for such panel.

9. A panel supporting frame according to claim 5 wherein said othermember is the frame member, said panel supporting member being providedwith the cyclic portion which is rotatably retained within the narrowmouthed channel, the cyclic portion comprising an open sided tubularmember, the open side constituting a longitudinally extending slot, saidreleasable locking means comprising screws engageable in the framemember and the panel supporting member when said flange is disposedparallel to but displaced from said panel supporting portion to definesaid panel supporting recesses, said cyclic portion being rotatable inthe channel of the frame member upon removal of the screws whereby saidflange is separable from said panel supporting portion to open saidpanel supporting recess, and said slot is positionable over said panelsupporting portion whereby said panel supporting member is separablefrom said frame member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,987 9/1915Johnson 189-78 X 656,314 8/ 1900 Beerbower 189-36 900,691 10/1908Armstrong 160-394 947,617 1/1910 McGann 52-282 1,085,229 1/1914 Thorne52-282 1,307,972 6/1919 Hester 52-282 1,548,083 8/1925 Young 52-5011,721,596 7/1929 Himmel 52-282 1,758,720 5/1930 Sodergren 160-3921,893,956 1/1933 Michaels 52-282 1,999,219 4/ 1935 Toney 52-4642,312,667 3/ 1943 Murane 52-272 FOREIGN PATENTS 640,088 1950 GreatBritain. 116,091 3/ 1946 Sweden.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

EARL c. DARSH, JACOB L. NACKENOFF, HENRY SUTHERLAND, Ex miners.

5. A PANEL-SUPPORTING FRAME COMPRISING A FRAME MEMBER OF CONSTANTCROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE, A PANEL SUPPORTING MEMBER OF CONSTANTCROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE, A CYCLIC PORTION EXTENDING ALONG ONE OF SAIDMEMBERS, A NARROW MOUNTED CHANNEL EXTENDING ALONG THE OTHER SAID MEMBER,SAID CYCLIC PORTION BEING ROTATABLIY RETAINED WITHIN SAID NARROW MOUNTEDCHANNEL BY THE WALLS THEREOF, A PANEL SUPPORTING FLANGE INTEGRAL WITHSAID CYCLIC PORTION AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE MODTH OF SAIDCHANNEL, A PANEL SUPPORTING PORTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID CHANNEL WALLS,